Resident, concerned for her safety, supports affordable-housing plan

I am a regular customer of several Salem businesses, particularly in the north downtown area.

On several occasions, I've run into homeless as I enter and exit these businesses. I've seen litter, sidewalk campsites, and passed-out homeless. It is clear that many are mentally ill or have drug and alcohol issues.

Business owners have told me that they've been burglarized and one time, someone defecated on their property. It seems that Salem has become a draw for many transient homeless because of the greater access to social services.

As a customer, I am scared about my safety. I think this problem will continue to grow unless we address core issues. A larger homeless shelter isn't what we need and I agree with the Editorial Board (April 4) that said "... a larger facility is only a bandage."

We need to invest in additional affordable housing with resident counselors. I also think a comprehensive statewide approach is needed because they tend to follow resources, traveling from city to city, or community to community.

As a taxpayer, I'd be willing to support such a plan if there were accountability measures and visible coordination among social service providers across the state.